Lincoln neighborhoods and communities across the U.S. are experiencing a mass tree decline with the removal of ash trees due to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department analyzed available data and found there are large low to moderate-income residential areas in Northeast and Northwest Lincoln that have been hit hard by EAB. The focus of this event is getting trees into the hands of owner-occupied homes where households may not have the disposable income to purchase a private tree.
To help get trees planted in these high need neighborhoods, Lincoln Parks and Recreation has selected Pioneers Park Nature Center as the site of the 2025 Tree Distribution on Saturday, September 27 starting at 11 AM. Trees will be available for pick up by going to the tree event booth located near the Cunningham school north of the parking lot.
Trees have been selected because of their suitability to the local climate, and information on selecting, planting, and maintaining your tree will be available.
Read through the following pages for information about available trees, the give-away event, and planting and caring for your tree.
The trees available for the giveaway are locally grown and well-suited for the Eastern Nebraska climate.
American Yellowwood
American Yellowwood
- Flower: Fringed Acorns
- Height: 30-50’
- Width: 40-55’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Yellowwood is a medium- to large-sized tree, 30 to 50 feet high, with smooth bark, large hanging clusters of fragrant white flowers, and clear yellow fall color.
AUTUMN -
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry
Amelanchier x grandiflora ‘Autumn Brilliance
- Flower:
- Height: 20-25’
- Width: 20-25’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Serviceberry is a wonderful four-season tree with white flowers in the spring, blue-green leaves that turn red in the fall, blue-black edible berries, and smooth silver-gray bark.
AUTUMN -
Bur Oak Douglas Co
BUR OAK
Quercus macrocarpa
- Flower: Fringed Acorns
- Height: 60-80’
- Width: 60’
- Sun: 8-12 Hours
- Soil: Moist
- Growth Rate: Slow to Moderate
Bur Oak, or Mossycup Oak, is a native medium to large-sized deciduous tree with a broad spreading crown that can be found in low woods and stream valleys across the Midwest. The leaves are dark green and leathery, with 5-9 rounded lobes. Acorn cups are about the size of a golf ball and are covered with a mossy scale or “bur” near the rim. Being exceptionally tolerant of drought, this tree is often in landscape settings, as roadside plantings, and in shelterbelts.>
AUTUMN - Leaves turn golden to yellow-brown
Cottonwood
Cottonwood
Populus deltoides
- Flower:
- Height: 60-100’
- Width: 35-60’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
- Growth Rate: Fast
This is a male selection of our native cottonwood, so NO cotton or seed. It is a large, fast-growing, deciduous tree.
AUTUMN - Yellow
Eastern Redbud
Eastern Redbud
Cercis canadensis
- Flower:
- Height: 20-30’
- Width: 25-35’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
- Growth Rate: Moderate
This Chicago-area native plant evolved in the understory and along the edges of forests. It works especially well among evergreens that contrast with its color and shelter it from intense sunlight.
AUTUMN -
Ironwood
Ironwood
Ostrya virginiana
- Flower:
- Height: 30-50’
- Width: 25’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
- Growth Rate: Fast
This fast-growing, hardy, medium-sized tree has slender, spreading branches. Hop-like fruits add interest in late summer and the persistent brown leaves add winter interest.
AUTUMN - Golden yellow
Northern Catalpa
Northern Catalpa
Catalpa speciosa
- Flower:
- Height: 50-60’
- Width: 35-40’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Alkaline soil, Moist, well-drained soil
- Growth Rate: Fast
Catalpa is a Midwest native tree that grows 40 to 60 feet tall, with a narrow, open, irregularly rounded crown and spreading branches. It has large, heart-shaped leaves and large clusters of fragrant, white flowers.
AUTUMN - Golden yellow
Northern Pecan
Northern Pecan
Carya illinoiensis
- Flower:
- Height: 70-100’
- Width: 40-75’
- Sun:
- Soil:
- Growth Rate: Fast
Forming a large, rounded canopy, pecan is relatively fast growing, with large, pinnately compound leaves that can be 12-18″ long. It is monoecious, with both male and female catkins on the same tree.
AUTUMN - Yellow
Osage Orange
Osage Orange
Maclura pomifera
- Flower:
- Height: 35-60’
- Width: 35-60’
- Sun:
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Commonly called Osage-orange or hedge apple, this medium-sized tree has a short trunk and rounded crown with large globular fruit produced by female trees.
AUTUMN - Yellow
Paw Paw
Paw Paw
Asimina triloba
- Flower:
- Height: 15-20’
- Width: 15-20’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Moist, well-drained soil, Wet soil
- Growth Rate: Slow
Pawpaw is a colony-forming understory small tree of rich bottomlands. Leaves are large (up to a foot long) and malodorous if crushed.
AUTUMN - Yellow
Sycamore
Sycamore
Platanus occidentalis
- Flower:
- Height: 70-100’
- Width: 75-100’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Alkaline soil, Wet soil
- Growth Rate: Fast
With the ability to become huge, sycamores needs a large area to thrive. Brown bark exfoliates to reveal mottled white inner bark, making it identifiable from a distance. Fruit is a brown ball which shatters into unproblematic seeds. Leaves can be quite large.
AUTUMN -Yellow-brown
Swamp White Oak
Swamp White Oak
Quercus bicolor
- Flower:
- Height: 50-60’
- Width: 40-50’
- Sun: 6 Hours
- Soil: Acid soil, Moist, well-drained soil
- Growth Rate: Moderate
Acorns borne on 2-4″ stalks. It shows good transplant success. Nice large shade or ornamental tree for parks, lawns and naturalized areas.
AUTUMN - Yellow-brown to red
Step 1. Show up!
Tree giveaway starts at 11 AM. and lasts until trees are gone. The booth will have volunteers and staff available to answer questions and help suggest the best tree for the space.
Step 3. Pick out your tree!
Chat with knowledgeable tree people to determine the best tree for your home. Once a species of tree is selected, volunteers will give you an information sheet on your new tree and a ticket to reserve your tree. Enjoy the Fall Festival at the Nature Center. Take a stroll through the prairie, check out the six new bison, and explore the woodlands. As long as you have the ticket, you have a tree.
Step 4. Pick up your tree!
Trees will be available for pick up near the schoolhouse at the north end of the Nature Center parking lot.
NOTE: Trees will come in a 1-gallon. bucket and will be approximately 5-6 feet tall. Please plan your drive home accordingly.
Step 5. Call before you dig!
Before planting your tree, you must file a locate request to ensure that your tree is planted in a safe spot (free of any buried utilities) on your private property. To file a location request online visit ne1call.com or dial 811.
www.ne1call.com 811
Step 6. Plant your tree!
Your tree is ready to plant after you receive a cleared ticket from 811. Trees should be planted within a few days after receiving your 811 clear ticket. Follow the guide for the best tree location that you received in your swag bag. Trees can be planted in the Fall until mid-November before the soil freezes. Please monitor the weather and soil forecast to ensure the survival of the new tree.
Water your tree daily and monitor the weather.